Post Tagged with: "We used to call this alternative"

The Undertones – True Confessions: Singles = A’s + B’s (1999): Forgotten Series

The Undertones – True Confessions: Singles = A’s + B’s (1999): Forgotten Series

The Undertones produced outstanding songs, but they unfortunately never netted enough sales to acquire widespread notice, remaining a cult favorite.

The Cure, May 26, 2016: Shows I’ll Never Forget

The Cure, May 26, 2016: Shows I’ll Never Forget

The Cure frontman Robert Smith’s uncanny way of putting words to music, making the sum of the two something more than its parts, remains unparalleled.

Vinyl

Speed the Plough – Now (2015)

Juggling pop rocking finesse with experimental episodes, Speed the Plough is still mixing and mashing genres. Democracy remains the key word on ‘Now.’

Talking Heads, “Crosseyed and Painless” from Remain in Light (1980): One Track Mind

Talking Heads, “Crosseyed and Painless” from Remain in Light (1980): One Track Mind

“Crosseyed and Painless,” released as part of ‘Remain in Light’ on Oct. 8, 1980, got at something deeper about the ’80s – and the Talking Heads.

Talking Heads’ Fear of Music opened up a world of art and sound for me

Talking Heads’ Fear of Music opened up a world of art and sound for me

When the Talking Heads’ ‘Fear of Music,’ released on Aug. 3, 1979, came wiggling out of my speakers, it was obvious I was onto something different.

Vinyl

Todd Rundgren jumpstarted the New Cars’ surprisingly fun It’s Alive

The New Cars, who released their lone album on June 6, 2006, made a canny choice in replacing Ric Ocasek with the multi-talented Todd Rundgren.

Vinyl

Violent Femmes, “Love Love Love Love Love” (2015): One Track Mind

An unexpected Violent Femmes reunion a few years ago didn’t seem to produce anything in the way of new music. At least, until now.

Vinyl

The Replacements collapsed in a heap of success with Don’t Tell A Soul

With ‘Don’t Tell A Soul,’ released on Feb. 1, 1989, the Replacements tried to move on from fashioning art out of chaos. Instead, they imploded.

Vinyl

Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love (2015)

Sleater-Kinney’s ‘No Cities to Love’ is a set of 10 sharp daggers, clocking in at just a little over 30 minutes and leaving the place a damn wreck.

Vinyl

Simple Minds, “Honest Town” from Big Music (2014): One Track Mind

Simple Minds are back with something unexpected, something personal — and something as involving as anything they’ve ever done.